Nepal recorded nine more Covid-19 related deaths taking the national toll to 280. While, the total number of infections has reached 45,277 with the confirmation of 1,041 new infections on Saturday.
In Kathmandu Valley, 408 cases were reported in the past 24 hours, with 326 infections detected in Kathmandu, 45 in Bhaktapur and 37 in Lalitpur districts. As of Saturday, the number of cases in the Valley has reached 7,900, of them 5,402 cases were detected after the prohibitory orders were announced on August 19 midnight.
Nine deaths were also reported in the past 24 hours, taking the country’s Covid-19 related fatalities to 280.
“Six men and three women died of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours,” Dr Jageshwar Gautam, spokesperson for the ministry, said during a regular press briefing.
Among the deceased, three men aged 41, 59 and 65 were from Kathmandu. Three women— a 43-year-old from Morang, a 52-year-old from Makwanpur and a 37-year-old from Nawalparasi were also among the casualties. Also, a 75-year-old man from Parsa, a 78-year-old from Mahottari and a 40, year-old from Rupandehi succumbed to the disease, said the Health Ministry.
The country has recorded 27,283 infections and 240 deaths since July 22. There were 17,994 cases and 40 Covid-19-related deaths until July 21, when the government decided to end the nationwide lockdown after four months.
According to the ministry, 101 individuals from Province 2, seventy-eight from Bagmati Province, 41 from Province 5, twenty-nine from Province 1, sixteen from Gandaki Province, 10 from Sudurpaschim Province, and five from Karnali Province have died of the disease so far.
As of Thursday, the government has carried out 757,963 PCR tests across the country.
“A total of 12,473 PCR tests were carried out in the past 24 hours,”said Gautam.
Swab samples of 326 individuals from Kathmandu, 71 from Rupandehi, 62 from Banke, 45 each from Chitwan and Bhaktapur, 41 from Siraha, 39 from Dang, 37 from Lalitpur, 35 each from Makwanpur and Morang, 26 from Mahottari, 23 from Kaski, 22 from Lamjung, 20 each from Saptari and Sunsari, 17 each in Sarlahi and Gorkha, 16 in Bajhang, 13 each in Nawalparasi (West) and Bara, 10 each in Parsa and Dhading, tested positive for the coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours.
Infections were also recorded in seven people each in Bardiya, Dhanusa and Jhapa, six each in Baglung, Gulmi, Dolakha and Kavrepalanchok, five eah in Kanchanpur, Ramechhap and Nawalparasi (East) and four in Kailali.
Likewise, three persons each in Dailekh, Tanahun, Palpa, Syangja and Udayapur, two in Doti, Salyan, Sindhuli and Okhaldhunga and one each in Ilam, Nuwakot, Parbat, Argakhanchi, Kapilvastu, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Jajarkot and Dadeldhura, also tested positive for the virus.
“Eleven districts—Morang, Sunsari, Dhanusha, Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan and Rupandehi—have more than 500 active cases,” Gautam said. “Six districts—Taplejung, Solukhumbu, Mustang, Humla, Mugu and Dolpa—don’t have any active cases.”
According to the ministry, 1,566 Covid-19 patients were discharged from various hospitals in the past 24 hours. So far, 27,127 individuals have made successful recovery.
“As of Thursday, 167 Covid-19 patients were being treated in intensive care units across the country and 24 patients—20 in Bagmati and three in Province 5 and one in Province 1—are on ventilator support.”
Nepal, on Friday, saw a record daily infection surge for a second day with 1,359 new coronavirus cases and 14 more deaths. Nepal had reported 1,228 new cases and six deaths on Thursday compared to 12 deaths and 1,120 new cases on Wednesday and 11 deaths and 1069 new cases on Tuesday.
Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus outbreak
UPDATED as of September 22, 2020
What is Covid-19? Covid-19, short for coronavirus disease, is an illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, short for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
How contagious is Covid-19? Covid-19 can spread easily from person to person, especially in enclosed spaces. The virus can travel through the air in respiratory droplets produced when a sick person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. As the virus can also survive on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours, any contact with such surfaces can also spread the virus. Symptoms take between two to 14 days to appear, during which time the carrier is believed to be contagious.
Where did the virus come from? The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that is responsible for everything from the common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). After an initial outbreak in Wuhan that spread across Hubei province, eventually infecting over 80,000 and killing more than 3,000, new infection rates in mainland China have dropped. However, the disease has since spread across the world at an alarming rate.
What is the current status of Covid-19?
The World Health Organisation has called the ongoing outbreak a “pandemic” and urged countries across the world to take precautionary measures. Covid-19 has spread to 213 countries and territoriesaround the world and infected more than 31,405,983 people with 967,505 deaths and 22,990,260 recoveries. In South Asia, India has reported the highest number of infections at 5,557,573 with 88,943 deaths. While Pakistan has reported 306,304 confirmed cases with 6,420 deaths. Nepal has so far reported 65,276 cases with 427 deaths.
How dangerous is the disease?
The mortality rate for Covid-19 is estimated to be 3.6 percent, but new studies have put the rate slightly higher at 5.7 percent. Although Covid-19 is not too dangerous to young healthy people, older individuals and those with immune-compromised systems are at greater risk of death. People with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, or those who’ve recently undergone serious medical procedures, are also at risk.
How do I keep myself safe? The WHO advises that the most important thing you can do is wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol content. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands. Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces like your computers and phones. Avoid large crowds of people. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist for longer than a few days.
Is it time to panic?
No. The government has imposed a lockdown to limit the spread of the virus. There is no need to begin stockpiling food, cooking gas or hand sanitizers. However, it is always prudent to take sensible precautions like the ones identified above.
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